That's all I say before I shut the driver's door. The heavy metal sound is loud in the mountain quiet and I tense. My senses expand, and I push away my thoughts about Ayla, my worries for her. There's nothing left except what I'm hearing. Seeing. Even smelling.
But there's nothing that snares my attention.
My hands drop to my sides, curling into fists as I release a shaky breath. Relief floods through me, chasing the adrenaline spike, but I don't release my vigilance as I walk around to the passenger side of the truck. Ayla's eyes meet mine when I open the truck, and that fear is back in her gaze.
"All clear." There's no shake to the words, just business like proficiency, and it's only politeness that makes me offer her my hand to help her out of the vehicle. It's simple courtesy that has my hands at her waist, lifting her down and guiding her carefully to the ground.
"Thank you," she whispers, and she might as well be saying the words directly in my ear. Breathing them against my skin. Then she throws her arms around my waist and hugs me. "I'm so glad you're all right."
I freeze in her embrace, but my fingers land in her hair, tangling in the thick mahogany waves. It's like silk beneath my rough fingertips. My eyes drop closed and I almost lose myself in the feeling. A bird calls and reality breaks through once more.
I indulge in one last pass over her soft hair, and then step back when she releases me. Creating distance between us once more.
One I clearly need because I can feel the ache of wanting her burning beneath my skin. A distraction neither one of us can afford.
"Thank you for being concerned for me." She smiles and shifts on her feet, the bag she's had with her since we met swinging, and I reach for it. I need to do something, take action, to keep my hands from reaching for her. "Not many people concern themselves over me."
She lets go of the bag, and I swing it over my shoulder, settling one of the straps in place and say, "Stay behind me."
Ayla nods and I turn to the cabin, making my way around the side and toward the front door. It's shadowed, but I can easily see the door is standing open, hanging crooked.
I step up onto the porch, reaching back to make sure Ayla is still behind me. Her fingers connect with mine, a brief brush only, but it calms me.
Until I take another step and the door comes into focus.
As do the slashing claw marks gouged into the wood.
This wasn't a break in. Not the way she was thought it was at least.
It was worse.
This was a bear.
6
AYLA
I know something's wrong simply because of the way Oren stiffens up. Every muscle of in his back goes taut, visible even through the fabric of his thermal henley, and I'm half tempted to trace the lines of them. Learn them, memorize them. To feel his strength with my own hands.
"Damn it." He mutters the words under his breath, but I still hear them.
Fear spikes and I need something to hold onto. Something real and tangible. I reach out, thinking I'll only steady myself with a passing touch, but my fingers curl into the hem of his shirt. The waffle material is warm compared to my cold skin, and the panic begins to ebb away. I take a deep breath, then a second, and look up when I feel his eyes on me.
"Are you all right?" Concern is laced into the question, and I nod, meeting his gaze.
"Yeah. I'm okay."
He smirks, one edge of his lips tipping up, and it's as unguarded as I've seen him so far. Even though I know he sawsomething dangerous just a moment before, I savor this instance of lightness. It feels good and I smile.
His eyes darken, the golden rings swallowed up the deep brown center, and my skin goes hot. It's like electricity, arcing between us.
"I need to go inside and check things out, but it's not safe for me to leave you out here alone. Stay close. And if I tell you to run, run to the truck, get in and lock the doors. You can drive to town and get help if you need to." He passes me his keys, laying them in my palm, pressing my fingers closed over them.
"Okay?" he asks.
I nod, my throat tight at the very idea of leaving him behind, but I can tell he won't accept any other answer.
'Good girl."